Green Party supports Federal Court’s decision on labelling wines from West Bank settlements

On August 06, 2019 the Green party of
Canada issued the following statement:

The Green Party of Canada applauds the Federal Court’s ruling to remove the ‘Product of Israel’ labels from wine produced in West Bank settlements. In its decision, the court ruled that such labelling is “deceptive” since it makes it difficult for Canadians to purchase conscientiously, thereby interfering with the Charter right to free expression.

“The Green Party calls for accurate labelling so that consumers can differentiate between products of Israel and those of occupied territories,” said Green Party Leader Elizabeth May (MP, Saanich-Gulf Islands). “Canadians should be able to make purchases that reflect their beliefs and values which is why it’s vital to correctly identifying the source of a product.”

In her ruling, Federal Court Justice Anne Mactavish indicated that all parties agreed that the West Bank settlements, whatever their legality, were not within the territorial boundaries of the state of Israel.

Although the Green Party explicitly rejects boycotting the state of Israel, we urge the government not to appeal the court’s decision. It is important to maintain Canada’s commitment to human rights and international law in regard to trade agreements.

The Green Party supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict that addresses the security, economic, and religious concerns of both sides. Greens will continue to call on Israel to stop building illegal settlements beyond the 1967 borders.